Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Oct 1879 · Sabato Morais Digital Repository · Legacy Projects from Judaica DH at Penn Libraries

Title

Literary Production. Morais, Sabato. Philadelphia, PA. Oct 1879

Author

Morais, Sabato

Date Created

3 October 1879

Location(s)

United States -- Pennsylvania -- Philadelphia

United States -- Pennsylvania

Format

4 pages on 1 sheet

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/page/NoC-US/1.0/?

Language(s)

English

Source

Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies

Sabato Morais Collection, Box 10, Folder 7

Has Format

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/items/ark:/81431/p3gq6rm4z/manifest.json

Link to Colenda

https://colenda.library.upenn.edu/catalog/81431-p3gq6rm4z

Provenance

Transfer of Custody from the Hebrew Education Society, 10 March 1913.

Is Format Of

https://raw.githubusercontent.com/judaicadh/morais/main/TEI/SMBx10FF7_6.xml

content

120
It was partly published in the Jewish Record as an editorial
for Succot, in 5640.
Beautiful is the feast of tabernacles. It has not the majestic solemn--ity of the days just celebrated; yet it partakes of their imposing character sanctity; while it imparts to the mind peculiar freshness and elasticity. The Our sacred season harmonizes with nature. The sear leaves dropping on all sides, as we pass on, speak in grave accents; the azure sky and the mellowing sun-beams, invite to joyfulness. A blending it is of light and shade, as it were, in our feelings, which the revealed word of God calls forth, and the silent language of His handiwork softly breathes in. Israel has been enjoined to hold now a celebration brimful of gladness; but withal earnestly devotional So we read in Deuteronomy [Hebrew] "A feast of tabernacles thou shalt keep for thyself" [Hebrew] "Thou shalt rejoice in thy feast" And immediately after the holy book uses the following expression. "Seven days shalt thou keep a feast for the Lord Thy God" Do these sentences stand in open contradiction? Not at all, my Brethren! They illustrate the character of the faith in which we have been born. That faith recognizes in the purity of man's intentions thoughts, a sublime act of reve--rence to the Divinity. In the same manner as we pay homage to the Supreme, when deeply impressed with the grandeur of His crea-tion. In the same manner as our heavenly Benefactors accepts

with favor the pious sentiments awakened by the appearance of the rich tapestry which covered fields and meadows, and by the luxuriant colours, which shrubs and trees display, so it will likewise be pleasing in His sight, when we relinquish our habitual callings, and enjoy in His name a season of content, sharing with our dear ones, and the needy blessings which He has bestowed. That is the sacred hinge on which Judaism turns. Our righteous intentions give glory to God our Maker. They are unto Him the most savory of human offerings [Hebrew]. To fast in honor of God, to eat in honor of God if conducive to the end intended by the wise Lawgiver will be equally accounted to our merit. Hence, the Biblical passage which calls this celebration Israel's feast, de--clares it also to be a feast of the Lord. Often we are taunted with being a people wanting in void of spirituality. You have heard that as--persion cast upon us by many hostile to our faith. They will say that Jews celebrate almost every occasion with a repast on wines and viands. We acknowledge the correctness of the charge. Still, we do not blush. The vaunted spirituality which consists in affecting contempt indifference for the world and the goods the Almighty dispenses therein is not a sentiment harbored in the Jewish breast. An Israelite voluntarily and gladly abstains from any all food, when he believes he fulfils by it a direction of his God; but he indulges participates in convivial gatherings, because he rejoices in the gifts of the Most High. And mark this Dour detractors! Having upon his lips a benediction to the merciful Donor, an Israelite

never turns his festivals or festivities into drunken revelries. Is that want of spirituality? Let them taunt, my Brethren! Our Succot not less than our Kippur has an elevating character. The holy convocation in the Synagogue, the historic tabernacle stretched beyond it; aye: the family choicer meal domestically enjoyed amidst time-ho--nored hymns and orisons render it, what the Scriptures term it a feast to ourselves, yet glorious to the Lord. In that manner we will yearly celebrate it. May it have the effect, which the autumnal season, wherewith it harmonizes creates on the thoughtful, inten--sifying our love for the Parent of all good, and reminding us of our precarious tenure of life, which like the booth temporarily erected may soon be removed taken away. Then we shall rise from the latter with hearts subdued; with an earnest wish that the parting rays of our every stage existence of life may soften human asperities, and ripen good-will with brotherly affection.
Beautiful is this holiday, my dear friends! because beautiful is the religion which has commanded it. Only ignorance and prejudice call material, what teems with soul-ennobling lessons. En-deavour to understand these, that you may not be carried away from us by false impressions. For much of the lukewarmness we observe among the youths of this century, proceeds either from unacquaintance with or from a misapprehension of the book, whence we derive the knowledge

of duty. The Psalmist asserted that because he made it a continual study, therefore he became wiser than his enemies [Hebrew] Your minds, will expand, through the teaching daily received. Both sacred and secular learning will contribute to widen the range of your thoughts. The more proficiency you gain therein, the more honor you will shed on Judaism. For the faith of your fathers has nothing to fear from sound knowledge. But as your ideas rise and assert their power, let them be brought under a wise guidance. Like David reflect on the wonderful volume which contains the history of your people, and the will of your God. Even as nature reveals a creative Intelligence, from which all spring up, so will a meditation of the Bible, present to your views the working of the same creative Intelligence, that is God, who rules and rewards man, provides for the world with mercy, and chastens its inhabitants with justice. You will be Jews, because you have seen the outstretched arm of the Lord rescue the oppressed. You will be Jews, because in every link of in the chain of the past will fasten your hearts to the present. And when the festivals which are an everlasting testimony of Divine Protection to our race come around, you will gladly join your brethren in singing, hallelujahs to the Keeper of Israel, who neither sleeps2 nor slumbers1.

Identifier

p3gq6rm4z

identifier

SMBx10FF7_6